Theodas and Yamada sat on a bench over looking Lorexia. A platter of fruit and meats set out between them. Yamada had snapped the tip off both fangs and had begun whittling them down with his gauntlets. "Can she actually lift that thing?" "Not really." "Then do you want her to leave with you? Or do you have something else in mind?" "I need time to rest, I'm not at full strength. Also gives me time to finish these off. Unlike Ul'lanna I'm not good at this." "You don't have some kind of magic on the outside, that you could use?" "If Jacara was here, he'd probably would. But I'm the one with the muscles." Lorexia let out a loud strained grunt. Losing her grip she launched herself onto her butt. "Maybe you need a break Lo-Lo?" Theodas called out, offering her a cup. "I'm fine!"
"May I ask you something Yamada?" "Why am I doing this for her?" "Well yes. You barely know us. I don't know what hospitality is like outside, but surely it doesn't get repaid like this." Yamada gave him a wry smile. "I know what it's like to be stuck on an island. With only a shred of hope, of getting what you want." He stared at Lorexia warmly, seeing her try again to budge Harbinger. "Unlike her, I had a hope to leave. Something to hold onto. Without me, she never had a chance of leaving here did she?" Theodas shook his head glumly. "She wants to go and see the world, and unlike me, there's nothing bad reason for it. What kind of person would I be, if I didn't help her?" "Can you swear that you will keep her safe?"
"I will keep her safe. And when she has seen the world. I'll bring her back to you." "What about your revenge?" "The man I want to kill is powerful than me. I'll need to become more powerful." "More powerful than you?" Theodas said eyeing Harbinger. "There are people much stronger than me. I will need to keep training in order to defeat them." "MOVE!! YOU FUCKING THING! ARGH!" Yamada chuckled. "Lo-Lo use your magic." Lorexia took a deep breath opening the Shadow gate. Yamada froze lurching forward. A shadowy visage of Lorexia appeared. It mirrored her actions perfectly. "Shadow magic..." He said enthralled. The two of them strained lifting each end of the cross guard. Lorexia fell back and her clone disappeared. Panting she hit the ground forcing herself back up. "Great plan dad. Now I can fail at twice the rate." She mumbled.
"That was Shadow magic..." "Do you not have Shadow magic outside?" Yamada shook his head. "Jacara could make a copy like that, but...he could barely use it." Theodas wore a smug smile. "Well Lo-Lo is an absolute master at Shadow Magic. Best in all of Absol." "Is that right Theodas?" A voice growled from behind. He leapt out of his seat recognizing that voice. The Chieftain stood behind him, with the other guardians and Faelar by his side. Yamada turned with a tired expression. Faelar frowning at him. Erlan Rocan the Chieftain was a tall and athletic Drow, wearing the same hair cut as his son. "Outsider. I heard you struck my son." He said pointing his spear at him. "I didn't strike him. I held him, and then he ran." "That's not true father. He attacked us." "Without my sight? At least learn to lie properly."
"Are you calling my son a liar?" Yamada gave them a puzzled look, shaking his head in disbelief. "Yes!" He exclaimed. Erlan placed his spear tip over Yamada's heart. "I could kill you in an instant, and no one could stop me." Yamada held the spear tip with his bare hand. He begun to squeeze and the metal let out a whining creak. Erlan tried to pull the spear free. "Funny. I was thinking the exact same thing." He said releasing the spear. Erlan stumbled back looking at his warped spear tip. "I don't want any trouble." Yamada said taking a seat. Erlan snarled spinning Yamada by the shoulder. "You don't get to come into my-" Yamada let out a furious roar transforming. He towered over Erlan his elongated neck, lurched over him. Yamada lowered his head snarling back at him. Piercing Azure eyes staring deep into his soul. "Be quiet." He snarled, gently patting Erlan on the head. His paw overshadowed his head. Yamada reverted back.
He spun back waiting to see the horrified look on Lorexia. To his surprise, she wore an expression of pride, joy and an expression he had only seen in "hungry" women, as Jacara called it. Erlan and the others trembled on the spot having never seen a Draken of his kind up that close. Yamada took a jug and splashed on Erlan's crotch. "Woops." He said coldly leaning into whisper. "You and your son, will leave the Seranae family alone. Should anything bad happen to them while I'm gone. You'll see exactly what I can do. Am. I. Clear?" Erlan nodded terrified and trembling. "Good. Also tell your son to leave Lorexia alone. He clearly bothers her, and she clearly doesn't like him. Now go and be a good father, before you become a dead one." Erlan nodded and quickly fled with Faelar in his arm. Yamada sat down with a sigh, shaking his head. "THAT WAS AMAZING!" Lorexia yelled out.
She came sprinting towards him. "Can you do that again?" "I-" "You were all like RAWR! Then he was all like.....And then-" "You're not scared?" "What? Are you joking? That was amazing. I've never seen someone transform before. I mean I have tried-" Theodas cocked an eye at her. "I mean, I have seen 'others' try to transform. Not me personally. I would never..." "It's not something I want to keep doing." "But you looked so amazing!" Yamada smiled. "When you move your Arcane energy inside. Don't think of it as one big motion. Try to hold it in. Like holding a gate open." Lorexia pondered and made her way to Harbinger, gripping the hilt with both hands. She let the energy surge through her body, constantly pouring it inside of her. She grit her teeth and yanked the hilt with all her might. Theodas watched as the blade twitched. She let out a roar falling back panting.
"Did you see! Did you see!" Theodas said eagerly shaking Yamada. "I saw." He rushed over to Lorexia. "You moved it Lo-Lo." "Yep! Dad." "Yes sweetie?" "I can't feel my body." Theodas snapped back to Yamada. "She says she can't feel her body." "That happens. She just needs to rest. Carry her back to her bed." "Dad I need you to-" "Argh my arm! Yamada, I hurt my arm. You'll have to carry her back." "I love you dad." She whispered. He gave her a wink. Yamada used the Orichalcum chain creating a stretcher for her. "Wait aren't you going to use your arms?" "I am. I'll carry this, and it is carrying you." "Well I don't want to be carried on a bed of metal. It will hurt me. Isn't it your job to protect me?" She pouted, batting her eyes at him. "I could always drag you." "No. I want to be carried. Like those princesses." "Okay, but you can't scream." "Why would I scre-" Her eyes shot open feeling the searing pain of Yamada touch her skin. She let out a ear piercing shriek. "Because you used all your Arcane energy. That's why."
"I still want to be carreeeeeee....." She squealed as Yamada poked her shin. He let out a sigh. "Here this should help." She watched as his azure Life Force entered into and around her body. 'This is the greatest moment in my life.' "Feel any better?" She nodded. "Good thing Karina taught me that one." 'That sounds like a woman's name. Maybe it's not.' "Hope she made it to the Citadel." 'DAMN IT!' "She sounds like a very lovely woman." She said through a smile. "Oh, she's amazing." 'You had to ask Lorexia.' "You'll love her, but come on you should rest." He held his hand out. "Ooooh, my legs still don't work. You'll have to carry me, Protector. With your arms." She quickly added. Yamada hoisted Lorexia into his arms, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "So evil." "Hey Theodas, can you take the plates back?" Her eyes bulged with fear as Theodas reached for the plates. 'DAD NO!' "Looks like your arm aren't in pain anymore." Theodas froze in place. He and Lorexia were silent. Yamada said nothing and continued on, walking Lorexia home.
Yamada laid Lorexia in bed. "Can I ask, what you're doing with all that wood?" Yamada cocked an eyebrow at her. "The lumber I mean." She blushed. "If I tell you. Will be quiet and not scream?" "I only promise to try." "I'm going to make us wagon, for going outside-" "AHHHH!" She squealed pulling Yamada in for a hug. "You didn't try very hard!" "I'm sorry!" She exclaimed shaking him side to side. "You don't know how long I've waited to go outside. To see the world." "Yes. Well when we go outside. You have to do what I say. You can't do what you did in front of those Sanguine." "What did you do?" Talindra asked sternly. "Nothing. I wasn't even there." "What did she do?" "She did nothing. She wasn't even close to the fighting, and I put her in a safe place." She glared at them, waiting to see if any of them broke. "Hmmmm..." Lorexia took a breath of relief as she left. "Why did you lie for me?" She whispered. "Because I'm evil. Now rest, I have other things to do."
"Yamada." She called out. He stopped at the door. "Thank you." She said with a warm smile. He gave her one back. "Rest. I'll finish getting things sorted." "A very evil thing to do." "You're never gonna let that go are you?" She shook her head with a grin. Yamada left the room finding Talindra sitting down at the kitchen table, a solemn expression on her face. "Theodas, told me what you're planning." He took a seat in front of her. "I don't like it. I don't want her in danger. I don't want to lose her." Yamada was silent. Talindra scoffed, mixed with a laugh. "Well? Isn't this where you tell me, I need to let go as a mother? Or that I shouldn't suffocate her?" "Do you know what I regret the most?" Talindra shook her head. "When I found my mum in the forest that night. She told me to run, and I froze. She screamed at me to run, and I did nothing. Then Begron found her. I replay that night in my head every day. If I had run, would she still be alive? If I didn't go out and find her, if I was stronger...just maybe I could have done something."
"I know, I know. I was a child. But I can't stop thinking about it. I'll never know these answers. I can tell you that I will protect her. I'll make sure that once she has seen the world. I'll bring her back to you." "And if she doesn't want to come back? What if she forgets us, after seeing the wonders of the world?" She chuckled, shaking her head. Fighting back her tears. "Then I'll bring Absol to her." Her head shot up shocked. He gave her a smile. "Do I have your blessing?" Talindra took Yamada's hand rubbing his scars. "You have the hands of a fighter." She flipped his hand over rubbing the scars on his palm. "I'll give you my blessing, if you can promise that. You will protect her, over getting your revenge." "Lorexia comes first." Talindra smiled wiping her tears. "Good. They said the wagon will be done in a few more days, as well as your clothes." "That's good to hear. Would you mind telling me where that Chieftain of yours is?" "Why? We'll be fine, even if you leave." "I don't trust him to protect you from those...things." "What are you going to do?" Yamada stood up stretching. "Kill them all, and make sure Absol is safe."